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SEPTEMBER 15, 1911
The Commoner.
enacted, ho made one exception, and
that was the woolen schedule. Ho
declared that the duties In that
schedule were excessive and in
defensible. "At the session just closed con
gress revised that schedule, reduc
ing tho duties on woolen cloths and
blankets used by the masses of the
American people, that were from 85
to 150 per cent, to approximately 50
per cent ad valorem.
"Yet President Taft vetoed the
bill, alleging that the revision was
not scientifically made. In my
opinion, it does not require a scien
tist to determine whether or not a
duty of 50 per cent is sufficient pro
tection for an industry that is con
trolled by a combination and that
has been successfully established in
this country for a century.
"Mr. Taft by his veto has nullified
every effort made by congress to re
duce the duties on trust-controlled
products, while the farmers' pro
ducts, the production of which never
can be controlled by trusts, have
upon his demand been placed upon
the free list. In other words, Mr.
Taft stands for free trade for the
farmer and excessive protection for
the manufacturer, and I do not
agree with that tariff policy.
"The president's language in ve
toing the resolutions admitting
Arizona and New Mexico into the
union under the constitutions they
had formed clearly indicates that he
and I differ very widely in our views
as to the American people as a
whole. I do not believe that they
constitute an irresponsible mob that
can not bo trusted with political
power. Every argument he made
against the recall of judges could be
made, and has been made, with the
same force against the election of
judges; and it is demonstrated be
yond any question that the elective
judiciary of our country Is superior
to the federal judiciary, which is ap
pointive. "I think it would be a mighty
good thing if a number of federal
judges could be recalled. In a' state
whero judges are elected for short
terms, the recall is not important,
but the action of such federal judges
as Archbald in the wire trust cases
demonstrates that a more direct re
sponsibility of federal judges to the
people is exceedingly desirable.
"I do not believe that the people
of any state or district, or any con
siderable number of them, would re
call a judge because he had been an
honest, competent and fearless offi
cer. Instead of recalling him, in
my opinion, they would re-elect him.
That is the way we do in Kansas.
So I do not commend, but condemn,
the position Mr. Taft took in the
veto message on Arizona statehood.
"The New Mexico constitutional
convention was controlled by the
railroads and reactionary politicians,
and Its constitution was just what
the interests wanted it. It was ultra
reactionary. Yet Mr. Taft could find
nothing to criticise in that docu
ment. The Arizona constitution
placed power in the hands of the
people, and It met the violent de
nunciation of the president.
"I am very much in favor of a
presidential primary election, under
the management of tho republican
state committee. I think every re
publican in Kansas ought to have
an opportunity to express his choice
i'or president. Personally, I am for
La Follette. I consider him one of
the greatest constructive statesmen
of his time. But my personal
preference is a matter of small con
sequence. What I desire most of all
Is that every voter shall have an
opportunity to express his preference
for president and vice president, and
that the delegates who go to the con
vention shall be directed to carry
out the wishes of the constituents
.who elect them."
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ommonodof
Squelched
I have studied all tho "isms," all tho
cults and "ologies,"
From the Persian Zoroaster to Con
fucius, tho Chinese.
I've studied some of Buddah, of
Mahomet I have read,
And theosophy I've delved in till an
ache came in my head.
I have listened to the speakers, and
I read tho written page;
I have tried to catch tho reasons of
philosopher and sage;
But all my time seems wasted, for I
really must infer
That I won't get started rightly till
I follow Mr. Kerr.
By a scientific thesis he's prepared
to demonstrate
If you'll send along the money just
to help to pay tho freight
That tho soul is non-existent, that
at death we reach tho end,
That the world's profoundest thinker
lives in Kansas, at Great Bend.
He's discovered God Is nothing, that
eternal lire Is not;
That the things we learned in child
hood are a bunch of tommyrot
And so it seems I'll never in this old
world make a stir
Till I swallow the discov'ry of a
scientist named Kerr.
But amidst my search and study
there comes stealing over me
Simple truths my mother taught mo
as I stood beside her knee.
And I see her sweet face smiling as
she raised her trusting eyes
To behold tho stately mansions built
for her beyond the skies.
I can see her walking bravely through
tho Shadow of the Vale
With a trust in Him who led her and
whose arm will never fail
So I guess I'll take my chances and
just follow after her,
And pass up the scientific and pro
lific Mr. Kerr.
We Feci Rebuked
Wo have been very sharply re
buked. Not by any common or gar
den variety of man, but by a scien
tist. In fact, by tho foremost scien
tist of the age. We are assured of
this fact because he who administers
the rebuke frankly admits that ho
is the greatest scientist of tho age.
A week or two ago we mentioned
a few Biblical incidents that ap
peared to us to contain the prime
elements of real humor, thereby re
vealing tho fact that we look upon
the Bible as being the Book of
Books. Whereupon Mr. W. H. Kerr,
of Kansas, sends us a marked
copy of his paper, "Tho Truth
About God and Life." whnrofn
we are classed as being mentally
deficient, therefore unable to learn.
Quoting one incident wo men
tioned, Mr. Kerr, the foremost scien
tist in tho world by his own admis
sion, says of us: "He has simply
reproduced the fable as taught him
when a 'kid' by his Idolatrous
parents or Sunday school teachers
just as a phonograph record would
have done, and he seems to have no
more ability to recognize Its absur
dity than the record would have."
Now if that isn't enough to make
us feel subdued, to make us feel
properly humiliated before this great
scientist, then are we indeed a hope
less case. The only thing I can do
is to subscribe for this great scien
tist's paper and inculcate into the
minds of my children tho Great Kerr
Discovery, to-wit: that there is no
God, no heaven, no soul, no eternal
life, nothing except Kerr's Great
Discovery, sent postpaid on recolpt
of 25 cents.
It has been a' long time slnco wo
have felt so thoroughly squelched, so
completely flabbergasted, so over
whelmingly subdued. To think that
wo have lived in this vale of tears
for forty-eight years without ever
having had tho darkened recesses of
our mind illuminated by tho glorious
light shed by the Great Kerr Dis
covery, a light obtainable at tho
paltry expense of a quartor of a
dollar!
But having lived this long in a
benighted state, and feeling fairly
good about It all tho time, we'll just
keep on. Not that wo aro afraid to
spond a quarter, for wo think no
more of 25 cents than we do of our
right arm, but we've derived so
much comfort, have found so much
solaco, have been strengthened for
so many trials, by the words wo have
found In tho Old Book, that wo are
impelled to just keep on relying upon
it. Wo might not be mentally able
to grasp tho profoundly of tho
"Discovery" of tho world's foremost
scientist, and if so we'd bo wasting
tho quartor of a dollar.
It is often well to bo informed of
our mental limitations. It serves to
get our feet back to earth again.
But, just tho same, we might feel
a bit more inclined to investigate tho
"Great Kerr's Discovery" if we were
convinced that old Lindloy Murray
did not turn over in his grave when
the "discovery" was worded.
Inquiring to Know
"So it will benefit me if I sell my
grain in a free trado market, will
it?" asked Farmer Tallcorn.
"Of course it will, for It means
that when you are Bhort on wheat
you can buy it cheaper from Canada,
or when Canada is short on wheat
you can sell yours over there for
more money."
"Uh-huh It means that when I
buy I buy cheaper, and when I noil
I sell for more?"
"Well, yes that is to sav. wlfh
- - r .. -..
reciprocity you
him. But whon convinced that tho
strange looking man wan really her
fnthor sho rushed Into tho houso and
shouted:
"Mamma, mammal Come down
and see papa. He's como out from
behind his whiskers!"
Tho Real Why
"Yes, ma'm; sugar has gono up
qulto a bit," explained tho grocer,
as ho tiod up tho cnsmallcd sack.
"What's tho causo of tho In
crease?" asked tho houaowlfo.
"It's a shortage In tho foreign
augar supply. You soo wo "
"No, I don't boo!" snapped tho
housowlfo. "I romembor now that
the sugar trust was heavily fined for
robbing tho govornmont, and it is
making mo holp pay tho fino."
After Longfellow
Lives of statcsmon oft remind us
That 'tis well not to ropeat
Many actions left behind us,
But accumulate "cold feet."
Wlmt?
"I'd rather be poor and respectable
than rich and hatod," remarked
Grouchorly.
"Well, it's not your fault you aro
poor," replied Bimmorly.
Brain Leaks
Beware of tho man who smiles
when ho Is angry.
Tho most serviceable knowledge Is
not acquired from books.
Tho first frost is a great reminder
of a wasted summer wage.
Tho love that is purchased with
money Is not worth the price.
Experience Is a dear school, but
the matriculation fee Is easy.
This is tho season of tho year
when tho grasshopper begins look
ing for the ant, and tho young man
for his undo.
A lot of men hnvo failed In their
business becauso they paid too much
much attention to tho business of
other mon.
00 &
TO MY FRIENDS
My new volume of verses
Uh-huh And by removincr nrn-
tection from my product I'm bene
fited, but removing the protection
from the manufacturer's product
would ruin him?"
"Not at all. Tho manufacturer
must bo compensated for the dif
ference in wages at homo and
abroad, hence wo must protect him
to the "
"Uh-huh! As in woolens, f'r In
stance, where the labor cost is $14
in every $100 worth of product and
the tariff tax 90 per cent Instead of
25 or 30 per cent, tho probable dif
ference between the wacro ho n.ivn
and. tho wage the foreign manufac
turer pays."
"But, my dear sir, can you not
see that "
"Uh-huh! I see. As a farmer I
am benefited by being compelled t&
sell in open and free trade markets,
but as a manufacturer I would bo
ruined; and as a manufacturer I
would profit by protection, but as a
farmer I would bo soriouslv handi
capped. It is all very simple when
you understand it."
After tho Shave
Gladys father has worn a full
beard many more years than Gladys
ban lived. Thft other dav hnr fnffcnr.
I shaved smooth, and when he. arrived
homo the little girl did not know
will bo ready for distribu
tlon on October 1. I am
coiner to bo nroud of its an-
pcarance and leave Judg-
ment of it contents to you.
At any rate, the con ten ts
afforded me a lot of pleasure
when I wrote them, and I be-
Hove I have a right to think
they have pleased a great
many others.
Those who have so kindly
signified a desire to become
tho possessor of a copy of
"Kiddles Six" may now send
along the dollar, and I'll send
tho book the first of the
month. To bo real frank
about it, I've got to get a
start becauso it takes money
to buy postage stamps, and
0 .the printennan hints that lie
could' use n few dollars.
Really it is going to be a
pretty little volume. Egg-
shell paper, cloth binding
5) with gilt or white trimmings
& side and back, and a "forti-
word" by Richard L. Met-
calfo. "Met" has said things
about mo that I can never
0 hope to deserve, but I'vo
gladly printed thern at tho
beginning of the book.
Kindly address all com-
mnnications to 240 North
0 Thirty-third street, Lincoln,
0 Nebraslca.
0 Believe me, kind friends, I
0 am gratefully yours,
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